Electromagnetic induction type position sensor

• US 7,049,924 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Okuma Corporation
• Original Assignee: Okuma Corporation
• Inventors: Fukui, Noriyuki, Hayashi, Yasukazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tuyen T
• Application Number:
  US11/170,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20060001518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• Field of Search: 336/200, 336/232, 32420711- 26
• US Class Current: 336/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2046 by a movable ferromagnetic element, e.g. a core
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 5/003 Printed circuit coils

Abstract

An electromagnetic induction type position sensor comprises an AC magnetic flux generating device which generates AC magnetic flux substantially at a wavelength λ, and a plurality of coils which receives the AC magnetic flux to output electromagnetic induction voltages. Each coil includes a plurality of sinusoidal conductive patterns at a wavelength λ formed in each of an even number of layers laminated via insulating materials. The plurality of conductive patterns formed in a same layer is arranged with a space between them in an amplitude direction of the sinusoidal shape, and is formed at the same position as a plurality of conductive patterns formed in another adjacent layer, and its amplitude is in a reverse phase to that of the plurality of conductive patterns formed in the other adjacent layer. All the conductive patterns constituting the same coil are connected in series so that a direction of an electric current of these conductive patterns is opposite to that of the conductive patterns in reverse phases when viewed from the front of the layers.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic induction type position sensor comprising:

AC magnetic flux generating means for generating an AC magnetic flux which repeatedly becomes strong and weak substantially at a wavelength λ

in a movement direction of a position detection target; and

a plurality of coils which receives the AC magnetic flux to output electromagnetic induction voltages different from each other in phase of an amplitude change,

wherein each coil includes a plurality of conductive patterns formed in each of an even number of layers laminated via insulating materials,

a shape of each conductive pattern is a sinusoidal shape at the wavelength λ

extending in the movement direction of the position detection target,

each conductive pattern pairs with the sinusoidal conductive pattern in a reverse phase formed at the same position in another layer,

two or more conductive patterns of the plurality of conductive patterns constituting a same coil and formed in the same layer are adjacently arranged with a space between them in an amplitude direction of the sinusoidal shape, and

all of the conductive patterns constituting a same coil are connected in series so that a direction of an electric current of these conductive patterns is opposite to that of the paired conductive patterns when viewed from a front of the layers.

2. The electromagnetic induction type position sensor according to claim 1, wherein the two or more adjacently arranged conductive patterns have sinusoidal shapes in the same phase.

3. The electromagnetic induction type position sensor according to claim 1, wherein the two or more adjacently arranged conductive patterns have sinusoidal shapes with a sequential regular phase difference.

4. The electromagnetic induction type position sensor according to claim 1, wherein the AC magnetic flux transmitting means has:

a scale made of a soft magnetic material whose surface has indentations at a pitch λ

; and

an electromagnet which emits an AC magnetic flux to the indented surface of the scale to generate an AC magnetic flux repeatedly becoming strong and weak at the wavelength λ

on the scale surface,

the plurality of coils being arranged between the indented surface of the scale and the electromagnet.